Premedication With Melatonin in Lumbar Medial Branch Block Procedure

NCT ID: NCT02415309

Last Updated: 2024-05-14

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE3

Total Enrollment

25 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-07-31

Study Completion Date

2022-05-31

Brief Summary

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Lumbar medial branch blocks are commonly used as a diagnostic tool for facet-mediated chronic low back pain. This interventional pain procedure often occurs in the fluoroscopy suite. During this procedure, a physician inserts the needles to deliver local anesthetics such as lidocaine or bupivacaine to the nerves which innervate the lumbar facet joint. Many patients experience anxiety before and during the lumbar medial branch block procedure and require intravenous midazolam or fentanyl for sedation. Intravenous or conscious sedation requires one-to-one nursing care, monitoring, and recovery. In order to minimize the costs and time requirements of intravenous sedation, a suitable oral medication which is readily available and non-controlled would be ideal. Several randomized double-blinded, controlled trials have investigated the anxiolytic effects of melatonin before a surgery; however no studies to date have studied the anxiolytic effects of melatonin before less invasive interventional pain procedures. This study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of melatonin for reducing anxiety in patients undergoing a lumbar medial branch block procedure.

The study is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial with 40 patients in each group: 2 mg melatonin, 10 mg melatonin and placebo. The primary outcome is anxiety reduction in patients before undergoing the procedure. The primary outcome is measured by visual numerical rating scale for anxiety and the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale. Based on the results of previous studies, the investigators hypothesize that melatonin may reduce anxiety in patients undergoing the procedure and be a suitable alternative to intravenous sedation in the pain clinic for patients undergoing lumbar medial branch blocks.

Detailed Description

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Chronic low back pain is a common disease in industrialized countries which affect patients' productivity and quality of life. Currently, the estimated yearly prevalence of chronic low back pain in United States is 5-20%. Lumbar medial branch blocks (LMBB) are commonly used as a diagnostic tool for facet mediated chronic low back pain. This interventional pain procedure often occurs in the fluoroscopy suite. During this procedure, a physician inserts the needles to deliver local anesthetics such as lidocaine or bupivacaine to the nerves which innervate the lumbar facet joint.

Many patients experience anxiety before the LMBB procedure and require intravenous midazolam or fentanyl for sedation. In fact, in a retrospective review of over 8,000 interventional fluoroscopically guided pain procedures, the highest incidence of vasovagal episodes occurred with LMBB procedures. A nurse is required to administer these medications and monitor patient's vital signs. In addition, recovery from these medications can unduly prolong the patients visit and, in the case of fentanyl, can confound the diagnostic utility of the LMBB procedure by decreasing patient's pain.

In an effort to minimize the cost of administration, monitoring, time of recovery and maximize the diagnostic utility of LMBBs, a suitable alternative is required. Several randomized, double-blinded, controlled trials investigate the anxiolytic effect of melatonin before a surgery. Several other studies and review articles describe the use of melatonin for both sedation and anxiolysis in both adults and children. However, no studies to date describe the use of melatonin for anxiolysis or sedation for interventional pain medicine procedures.

Melatonin ((N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an over-the-counter product which patients can take to reduce anxiety before a procedure; it is a hormone produced in the pineal gland and secreted into the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Melatonin has several functions including the regulation of circadian rhythms and regulation of the reproductive axis and antioxidant activity. Exogenous melatonin has been used to treat insomnia and jet lag.

Conditions

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Anxiety

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators

Study Groups

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2 mg Melatonin

To remain within the doses used for anxiolytic effects in past studies, we plan to study the effects of 2mg melatonin.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

2 mg Melatonin

Intervention Type DRUG

40 patients will randomly receive 2 mg melatonin

10 mg Melatonin

To remain within the doses used for anxiolytic effects in past studies, we plan to study the effects of 10mg melatonin.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

10mg Melatonin

Intervention Type DRUG

40 patients will randomly receive 10 mg melatonin

Sugar Pill

To remain within the doses used for anxiolytic effects in past studies, we plan to study the effects of two different levels of melatonin versus placebo as premedication in patients undergoing a lumbar medial branch block (LMBB) procedure.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type OTHER

40 patients will randomly receive a placebo/sugar pill

Interventions

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2 mg Melatonin

40 patients will randomly receive 2 mg melatonin

Intervention Type DRUG

10mg Melatonin

40 patients will randomly receive 10 mg melatonin

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo

40 patients will randomly receive a placebo/sugar pill

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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N-acetyl-5-methoxytripatamin N-acetyl-5-methoxytripatamin Sugar Pill

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* undergoing LMBB procedure
* both genders between the ages of 18-50

Exclusion Criteria

* patients with active pregnancy (due to ionizing radiation)
* liver disease
* contraindications to LMBB procedure
* patient refusal
* localized or systemic infection
* low platelet count
* fibromyalgia
* use of sedative medications
* failure to comply with procedures
* investigator's determination that the assigned treatment is ineffective or unsafe
* appearance of unacceptable side effects in the subject
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

50 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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United States Naval Medical Center, San Diego

FED

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Eugene Smith

LCDR, MD

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Rick Fisher, DO

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

United States Naval Medical Center, San Diego

Locations

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Pain Medicine Center

San Diego, California, United States

Site Status

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth

Portsmouth, Virginia, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Wheeler AH. Diagnosis and management of low back pain and sciatica. Am Fam Physician. 1995 Oct;52(5):1333-41, 1347-8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 7572557 (View on PubMed)

Slipman CW, Derby R, Simeone FA, et al. Slipman: Interventional Spine: An Algorithmic Approach, 1st ed. Elsevier Inc 2008.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Wurtman R. Physiology and clinical use of melatonin. www.uptodate.com. Accessed 2/8/15.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Cramer H, Rudolph J, Consbruch U, Kendel K. On the effects of melatonin on sleep and behavior in man. Adv Biochem Psychopharmacol. 1974;11(0):187-91. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 4367644 (View on PubMed)

Wurtman RJ, Zhdanova I. Improvement of sleep quality by melatonin. Lancet. 1995 Dec 2;346(8988):1491. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(95)92509-0. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 7491013 (View on PubMed)

Brzezinski A, Vangel MG, Wurtman RJ, Norrie G, Zhdanova I, Ben-Shushan A, Ford I. Effects of exogenous melatonin on sleep: a meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev. 2005 Feb;9(1):41-50. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2004.06.004.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15649737 (View on PubMed)

Herxheimer A, Petrie KJ. Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of jet lag. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(2):CD001520. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001520.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12076414 (View on PubMed)

Acil M, Basgul E, Celiker V, Karagoz AH, Demir B, Aypar U. Perioperative effects of melatonin and midazolam premedication on sedation, orientation, anxiety scores and psychomotor performance. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2004 Jul;21(7):553-7. doi: 10.1017/s0265021504007094.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15318468 (View on PubMed)

Naguib M, Samarkandi AH. The comparative dose-response effects of melatonin and midazolam for premedication of adult patients: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Anesth Analg. 2000 Aug;91(2):473-9. doi: 10.1097/00000539-200008000-00046.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10910871 (View on PubMed)

Caumo W, Torres F, Moreira NL Jr, Auzani JA, Monteiro CA, Londero G, Ribeiro DF, Hidalgo MP. The clinical impact of preoperative melatonin on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. Anesth Analg. 2007 Nov;105(5):1263-71, table of contents. doi: 10.1213/01.ane.0000282834.78456.90.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17959953 (View on PubMed)

Ismail SA, Mowafi HA. Melatonin provides anxiolysis, enhances analgesia, decreases intraocular pressure, and promotes better operating conditions during cataract surgery under topical anesthesia. Anesth Analg. 2009 Apr;108(4):1146-51. doi: 10.1213/ane.0b013e3181907ebe.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19299777 (View on PubMed)

Moerman N, van Dam FS, Muller MJ, Oosting H. The Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS). Anesth Analg. 1996 Mar;82(3):445-51. doi: 10.1097/00000539-199603000-00002.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8623940 (View on PubMed)

Melatonin Monograph. http://www.naturaldatabase.com/(S(nqojvt553k2ihb45ojhbdwu1))/nd/Search.aspx?cs=CPCE&s=ND&pt=100&id=940&ds=&name=MELATONIN&searchid=17337409. Accessed 2/3/15.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Ahmad RA, Samarkandi A, Al-Mansouri SM, Obeidan SA. Sedation characteristics of melatonin and midazolam for premedication of adult patients undergoing cataract surgery under local anesthesia. Saudi Journal of Anesthesia 2007;1(1):6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Bajaj P. Melatonin for anxiolysis in children. Indian J Anaesth 2009;53:504-5.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Kucukakin, B. Modification of surgical stress response by perioperative melatonin administration. PhD Thesis for Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, University of Copenhagen,

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Kurdi MS, Patel T. The role of melatonin in anaesthesia and critical care. Indian J Anaesth. 2013 Mar;57(2):137-44. doi: 10.4103/0019-5049.111837.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23825812 (View on PubMed)

Samarkandi A, Naguib M, Riad W, Thalaj A, Alotibi W, Aldammas F, Albassam A. Melatonin vs. midazolam premedication in children: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2005 Mar;22(3):189-96. doi: 10.1017/s0265021505000335.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15852991 (View on PubMed)

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Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20823763 (View on PubMed)

Andersen LP, Rosenberg J, Gogenur I. Perioperative melatonin: not ready for prime time. Br J Anaesth. 2014 Jan;112(1):7-8. doi: 10.1093/bja/aet332. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24318695 (View on PubMed)

Capuzzo M, Zanardi B, Schiffino E, Buccoliero C, Gragnaniello D, Bianchi S, Alvisi R. Melatonin does not reduce anxiety more than placebo in the elderly undergoing surgery. Anesth Analg. 2006 Jul;103(1):121-3, table of contents. doi: 10.1213/01.ane.0000222476.62547.ed.

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PMID: 16790638 (View on PubMed)

Pokharel K, Tripathi M, Gupta PK, Bhattarai B, Khatiwada S, Subedi A. Premedication with oral alprazolam and melatonin combination: a comparison with either alone--a randomized controlled factorial trial. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:356964. doi: 10.1155/2014/356964. Epub 2014 Jan 12.

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Kennedy DJ, Schneider B, Casey E, Rittenberg J, Conrad B, Smuck M, Plastaras CT. Vasovagal rates in flouroscopically guided interventional procedures: a study of over 8,000 injections. Pain Med. 2013 Dec;14(12):1854-9. doi: 10.1111/pme.12241. Epub 2013 Oct 4.

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Madsen BK, Zetner D, Moller AM, Rosenberg J. Melatonin for preoperative and postoperative anxiety in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Dec 8;12(12):CD009861. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009861.pub3.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 33319916 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

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NMCSD.2015.0048

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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